Team Name:

The Science Chicas

Team Symbol:

I. Team Members Names (First Only)

Rebekah and Anastasia

II. Instructions for Challenges

A. For each challenge you must write a short description of the challenge using complete sentences. Please write in 3rd person, scientific writing.
B. This is where you should include your programming code by including screen screen shots.
You should place all multimedia on photobucket.com and then incorporate it into the site using the embed code.
C. For each challenge you must provide some form of multimedia exhibit. This would be images, a short video, an interview, etc. You should place all multimedia on photobucket.com and then incorporate it into the site using the embed code.
D. For each challenge you should provide a written explanation of the difficulties encountered with the challenge.

DATE: 4/?/2009 (Example)

DATE: 4/20/2009

Title of Challenge:
Point Turn
A. Description:
This challenge consisted of having the robot move 25 centimeters forward, then it did a 180 degree turn, and then it went 10 centimeters after this turn.
B. Programming Code:
Figure 1. Challenge One Programming Code

The first box is telling the robot to go forward 25 centimeters. The second box is telling the robot to do a 180 degree turn. The third box is telling the robot to continue by going 10 centimeters after this turn (it goes 10 centimeters backwards). After this is done, the robot ends up facing the opposite direction that it started in.

C. Multimedia:

Video 1: Robotics Challenge One

Figure 2. Robot Photo Before Challenge One

D. Difficulties Encountered/How You SOLVED the Challenge! (Paragraph):
The main difficulty in this challenge was trying to determine how far it needed to go because it had to move exactly 25 cm and then 10 cm which was difficult. To do this, the guess and check method was used although the circumference of the wheel could have been found. If this was found, then the number of rotations that the robot had to travel would have been easier to find.

DATE: 4/22/2009

Title of Challenge:
Square
A. Description (Short Paragraph):
The robot must follow the square drawn on the floor at the front of the room. The robot had to go roughly 62 centimeters, then make a 90 degree left turn, continue going for 62 centimeters, and make a 90 degree left turn. After this the robot would continue moving forward for 62 centimeters to the finish of the square.
B. Programming Code (Picture and Written Explanation):
Figure 3. Challenge Two Programming Code

The first box in this programming makes the robot go 62 centimeters (3.5 rotations). The second box has the robot make a 90 degree left turn. This pattern alternates until the end when the robot finishes the challenge.

C. Multimedia:

Video 2. Robotics Challenge Two

D. Difficulties Encountered/How You SOLVED the Challenge! (Paragraph):
One of the difficulties encountered was making the robot do an exact 90 degree angle. Often, it would turn too much or too little and if one turn is messed up they're all messed up. This was solved by trial and error. When the robot's turns are messed up the programming has to be checked. Mostly it has to be tested over and over to find a good amount of turn. This was solved by experimenting with the amount of distance that the robot had to go. Each line of the square was measured to be about 62 centimeters. By experimentation it was decided that to make it go that far would mean 3.5 rotations of the wheels. Then there was a 90 degree turn which caused the most problems during this challenge. On the second turn, making the robot go exactly 90 degrees wasn't possible without messing up the rest of the course. So, to make it work the the robot made the turn and then on the straight it was made to go a little bit sideways so that it would stay on the tape.

Video 3. Challenge Two Interview

DATE: 4/24/2009

Title of Challenge:
Backing Up
A. Description (Short Paragraph):
In this challenge the robot had to go forward (3 rotations) and then make a right turn to the end of a line on the floor. The robot then had to back up while making a sound to the end of another line (shown in Figure 4).
B. Programming Code (Picture and Written Explanation):
Figure 4. Challenge Three Programming Code
The first block explains going forward 3 rotations then making a obtuse turn that resembles an "r." Then the robot goes straight for about 1 rotation. After this, the robot starts going backwards for about 1 rotation then it makes a noise then it goes back for about 2 more rotations.

C. Multimedia:
Figure 5. Preparing for Challenge Three

Video 4. Robotics Challenge Three

D. Difficulties Encountered/How You SOLVED the Challenge! (Paragraph):
The most important part of this experiment was making sure that it was practiced often. Also, making sure that the turns stayed on the tape was the hardest part. In the end the robot was very successful and it went forward for three rotations, then went forward for two rotations, and then backed up while making a tone.

DATE: 4/28/2009

Title of Challenge:
Obstacle Course
A. Description (Short Paragraph):
In this challenge, an obstacle course had to be made. The robot had to start moving when it heard a sound; using the sensors. The robot then had to follow a course that was made on the ground. This course consisted of moving forward, making turns, making a bank turn, backing up, and making a sound.
B. Programming Code (Picture and Written Explanation):
Figure 6. Challenge Four Programming Code
Figure 7. Challenge Four Programming Code 2
C. Multimedia: